In World Day Message, Secretary-General Urges International Community to Support

 

Developing Countries in Preventing Diabetes, Increasing Access to Health Care

 

Following is Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message on World Diabetes Day, observed 14 November:

Diabetes kills at least 1 million people every year, many of them in developing countries and many well before their anticipated life expectancy.  It can make other diseases worse, and can have a terrible impact on maternal and child health.  In some countries, the rapidly rising burden of diabetes is a factor in faltering progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Yet, type 2 diabetes is preventable.  It is among the so-called “lifestyle diseases” -- along with cardiovascular disease and some cancers -- attributable to unhealthy diets, a lack of exercise, tobacco use and the abuse of alcohol.

This means that effective strategies and plans of action will not be limited to the health sector alone.  Rather, they should involve many areas of Government and a wide range of actors, including civil society and the private sector.

The United Nations system, for its part, is fully engaged in helping countries to deal with the challenges posed by diabetes.  Prevention can help reduce poverty, promote economic productivity and keep countries on track in their efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

On World Diabetes Day, I urge the international community and international development agencies to support developing countries in preventing diabetes and increasing access to health care.

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For information media • not an official record